Ex-aide: Newark councilman fired me after I refused to make $10K donation

NEWARK -- City Councilman Luis Quintana is being sued by his former longtime aide who claims he was fired after he refused to make a $10,000 donation to help his ex-boss raise money for a festival.

Nelson Nieves filed a lawsuit in Essex County Superior Court this month alleging that Quintana's request for a donation was "inappropriate," "unlawful" and a "misappropriation" of money set aside for the Puerto Rican Day Parade, which Nieves oversaw. Nieves said Quintana harmed his reputation and sabotaged the 2016 parade to make him look bad, the complaint says.

"He needs to take these legal measures in order to get justice," Louis Zayas, Nieves' attorney told NJ Advance Media. "This is a pretty disturbing set of circumstances directed at Mr. Nieves for doing nothing other than being a trusted representative of the Puerto Rican Day Parade."

Zayas said Nieves is seeking compensatory damages and his job back. Nieves worked for Quintana from 2005 until he was fired last year but remains president of the Puerto Rican Day Parade -- a volunteer position.

"This is causing him extreme financial stress. He lost his medical benefits. He has no means to support himself," Zayas said.

When reached by phone on Friday, Quintana said he had not yet been served with the lawsuit and could not comment on the allegations until he reviewed them.

But he added: "My integrity is more important to me than anything in this world. This is about integrity," he said.

A city spokeswoman said the city does not comment on pending litigation.

Nieves, who has served as president of the parade since 2014, said the trouble stemmed from the appointment of Jacqueline Quiles, who previously oversaw the parade, the complaint said.

But the complaint says Quintana and Quiles eventually became friends and Quiles began seeking Nieves' removal.

Nieves was asked to organize a festival on the same day as the parade sponsored by four politicians -- including Quintana -- who would raise $5,000 each, the suit said.

But Quintana failed to come up with the money and asked Nieves "to help me out with this" and donate $10,000, court documents say. When Nieves refused, he claims he was retaliated against and ultimately fired last December.